Why I Became a Kafir?

by Shafi H

27 May, 2002

Most Muslims when they are questioned about their faith immediately denounce us 'kafir' as if it is a very bad name per se. I want to say that this is not the case. We should be proud to call ourselves kafirs. I will give you the reasons.....

I believe in accepting criticism, both of me and my beliefs. If the criticism is constructive I will accept it and if not Ill ignore it (and will not pass a death sentence)

I believe in answering debate with debate and logic with logic and not debate with guns and logic with bombs.

I believe that Human life is more sacred than any idea.

I believe in humane, reform able, flexible though (man-made) laws and not fixed, rigid, (divine?) laws that were given by a blood -thirsty God (or maybe they arose out of the mind of a schizophrenic.

I believe that humanity is one family (and not separated into two hostile camps as 'momin' and 'kuffar'

I believe that every human being has the right to follow his own path.

I disbelieve in both 'The greed for heaven' and 'The fear of hell' for I know that both fear and greed are negative emotions and that two negative emotions can never lead to any positive change in me.

I believe that I'm not a child to be disciplined by the greed of a sweetmeat and the fear of the rod. I'm mature, I don't commit crime, for I know that every crime hurts someone, and my basic humanity not to hurt others prevents me from evil and not my greed or fear.

I believe that women are not' one step lesser than men'.

I believe that a woman's word carries equal weight in a court of law.

I believe that in a rape the rapist should be punished and not the raped woman punished (death by throwing stones) for adultery.

I believe that no dress code should be imposed on anyone forcibly.

I believe in being patriotic and I love my nation in which I was born.

I believe in being loyal first to my nation and not to Arabia.

I believe that my country is not an Infidel nation (Dar ul harb-land of war) rather my country is as sacred as Arabia and cities of my country are as sacred as Mecca or medina.

I believe in not hating my own country (just because the majority are infidel Christians though I may enjoy all the freedoms here)

I disbelieve in slavery

I disbelieve in invading other nations and looting them.

I believe that answering criticism with murder is immoral (and not an act of political genius)

I believe that polygamy belittles women (for a man with 4 wives each wife is effectively only one-fourth of her husband)

I believe in loving-kindness

I believe in a religion which is flexible and which welcomes science.

I believe in free thought.

I believe in allowing doubt and even welcoming doubt

I believe in inviting criticism

I believe in respecting the sacred places of other faiths and not demolishing them

I believe that murder is a greater crime than 'kufr' and rape a worse vice than 'shirk'

I disbelieve in a merciless, bloodthirsty, incompetent, impotent god.

I believe in a faith that's so flexible that even though injustices do creep in, there is at least a chance for reform.

I value a humane person more than a prayerful one...a man of good character more than a god fearing one.

I believe that religion should be a personal experience and voluntary and not a mass hypnosis based on a single man's “revelation” forced down our throats.

I believe that a thief should be reformed and not having his hands cut-off and therefore reducing him to a beggar rather than helping him find a reasonable livelihood.

I believe that adultery should be punished with divorce and not with death by stoning.

I believe in empathizing for the whole of humanity and not only for my religious community.

I believe in love and not in hate.

I love music and dance and consider them to be divine and uplifting.

I love sculpture and painting ...of both human and non-human forms

I believe that Art shouldn't be restricted by narrow views and fatwas.

I believe in the separation of religion from statecraft...I don't want mullahs and Imams meddling with politics.

I love to have fun and be happy and see other people happy and peaceful and trembling throughout their lives with the fear of hell.

I'M A HUMAN BEING WITH A WELL DEVELOPED BRAIN WHICH IS QUESTIONING, CURIOUS AND THINKING AND BECAUSE IM NOT A MINDLESS ROBOT.

So when you meet a Muslim anywhere and he asks what your religion is ….reply proudly